[Resignation on medical grounds: family physicians insufficiently aware of the background]

To inventory the knowledge and the involvement of General Practitioners (GPs) in the procedure "resignation on medical grounds'. Resignation on medical grounds used to be a lawful action in order to prevent further occupational health deterioration. With the advent of new legislation resignation by the employee is financially detrimental as there is no financial compensation for the loss of work, except in case of resignation because of acute medical problems.

Exploratory, descriptive.

North-West and North-East Twente region, the Netherlands.

A short questionnaire was sent to the 160 GPs in this region.

Of the notified GPs 72% (n = 116) responded. The familiarity with the concept "resignation on medical grounds' appeared to be great (78%), in contrast to the knowledge of its legal background (22%). The number of times in the preceding 6 months that patients, industrial medical officers and social insurance physicians had approached the GPs with questions regarding resignation on medical grounds was limited; 34% had been consulted. A majority of the GPs considered it their task to make statements on this subject.

There was a time when "resignation on medical grounds' could offer a solution when a working situation was damaging the health of an employee. In the current legislation it is only in cases of acute medical necessity that the resignation is not blame-worthy. The emphasis must nowadays be put on mediation and reintegration. This is the special task of the industrial medical officer. The GP may play a supportive, consultative part.